Design, Synthesis of Norbornene Based Monomers and Their Polymers for Sensing Applications

Sarkar, Santu (2014) Design, Synthesis of Norbornene Based Monomers and Their Polymers for Sensing Applications. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education And Research Kolkata.

PDF (PhD Thesis of Santu Sarkar) Santu-Sarkar-PhD-Thesis.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (8MB)

Abstract

Progress of science brings us in such a stage, where adverse effect of our inventions is prompting us to develop further strategies to get rid of them. It is high time for us to specifically mark those problems and find out techniques to stop their effects. Here we have taken two of such problems and tried to develop unique processes to minimise them. Those are heavy metal carcinogenic effect and nerve gas attack. Regarding our first concern, heavy metals are the great discovery of science and these are utilized abruptly in our daily life through various technologies, transports and communications. Excess use of heavy metals pollutes mainly our drinking water and beyond a limit each heavy metal has their own toxic effect on any living being. So to lead a healthy life first and foremost we need pure pollution free water and for that we need to detect the presence of heavy metals in water as it can’t be seen by eyes. Easy detection techniques for in-field use should be developed to sense their presence and useful systems need to be designed to remove them. Another problem is the beautiful finding of numerous scientists in the time of world war i.e. synthesis of nerve agents. These are odourless, colourless organophosphates, with high reactivity, that can damage our nervous system once inhaled. But due to the easy synthesis process and available starting materials, it became a useful weapon for the terrorists. Several nerve gas attack, which killed several people, warns us to look for techniques to sense them before it is inhaled. Here in Chapter I, we have developed polymer based fluorometric “turn-on”sensing system to detect cadmium ion in aqueous solution. Paper strip coated with PN8HQ can be used for in-field detection of cadmium in ppb level. Chapter II describes detection of another carcinogenic heavy metal arsenic through colorimetric techniques. Rhodamine based monomer Nor-Rh and polymer PNor-Rh are utilized for sensing arsenic in ppb level. Paper strip model sensing system is successfully demonstrated. Also thiol based polymer PNor-Th is synthesised for the removal of arsenic from arsenic containing water. Chapter III contains details about lanthanide based fluorometric sensing system NDT-EuIII for nerve gas surrogates. In chapter IV, we have developed a ultrasensitive detection system for nerve gas surrogate diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP). Here NCHQ monomer provides fluorometric response in presence of DCP and polymer PNCHQ is able to detect DCP even in vapour phase. Chapter V describes development of beautiful superstructures from rhodamine homopolymers and their utilization for drug loading. In summary, we are successful to make some unique contribution through our sensing techniques towards the problems addressed above.

Actions (login required)

View Item